This House Will Have You Hooked On Decorating With White

For Montana blogger Vanessa Pleasants, a wintry white palette in her circa 1900 Victorian offers a serene blank slate for a flurry of vintage finds.

By
Jennifer Kopf

Jan 6, 2016

When you live in Montana, a state known as "Big Sky Country," it's a safe bet that you gravitate toward all things open and airy. At least that's the case for Vanessa Pleasants, cofounder of the Vintage Whites Market, a 100-plus vendor antiques show with events throughout the West. Unfortunately, the Victorian that caught her eye (those shingles! that gable!) in Kalispell didn't exactly offer the up the wide- open spaces she craved. (It had been converted into a triplex in a past life.) But Vanessa and husband Caleb, were undeterred.

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Exterior

Victoria Pearson

First, they painted every room white for a more cohesive feel and then incorporated predominantly neutral large scale pieces like the sofa and stove. With a fresh palette that lets antiques shine, Vanessa can now focus her efforts on growing her beloved collections—and the sky's the limit.

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Living Room

Victoria Pearson

While the 300-square-foot room is short on space (note that narrow coffee table), the all-white walls give it an open and inviting feel. Homey antiques, like the light blue armoire outfitted with soft floral curtains and the deconstructed wing chair, keep the space feeling cozy, not cold. At the other end of the room, a vintage piano strikes a soft note thanks to creamy white chalk-finish paint.

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Country Classic: Chalk Paint

Victoria Pearson

Coined by paint maven Annie Sloan in the 1990s, the term Chalk Paint has become synonymous with paints with a matte—almost chalky—look. The thick finish gives pieces both old (like the passed-down piano shown here) and new a timeworn look. Bonus: It requires virtually zero sanding or priming. To get the look, try Pure by Annie Sloan.

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Kitchen

Victoria Pearson

When you run an antiques market, standard new cabinets just won't do. Instead, Vanessa topped an auto garage storage console with gray-veined marble for truly custom cabinetry. (Originally painted a bold blue, she stripped down the raw wood for a less industrial look.) White appliances add retro charm without overwhelming the space, and the chippy workbench-turned-island, lit by an oversize pendant, adds a central hit of color.

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Master Bedroom

Victoria Pearson

With its intricate carvings, the dark wood headboard takes center stage in Vanessa and Caleb's room. (To keep the space feeling open, the matching footboard was banished to storage.) The strong focal point allows for asymmetrical vignettes on either side of the bed. On the left, a free-standing mirror amps up the natural light; on the right, floral artwork adds a feminine finish.

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Eli's Room

Victoria Pearson

The clever bed canopy in Eli's space is simply a trio of humble hardware store staples: painter's drop cloth draped over a wooden dowel and hung from the ceiling with a thick manila rope. Vanessa rotates vintage finds, like the oversize plastic E and paint palette, in and out of the room.

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Mudroom

Victoria Pearson

In the mudroom, a glossy black floor (Black Knight by Benjamin Moore) provides a break from the all-white surface throughout the house. Bonus: It can handle snow boot traffic. Lovingly weathered salvaged pieces, like the concrete sink and chippy old frames, add soul to an all-white space. The base of the sink is crafted from hardware store piping.

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Vanessa Pleasants

Victoria Pearson

Fifty thousand followers can't be wrong! Vanessa's popular Instagram feed (@vintagewhites) serves up picture- perfect neutral rooms. Here, a few more of our favorites to follow.

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